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Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2026-07-10
Create Labor Mapping Rules

Create Labor Mapping Rules

Security:
Set Up: Labor Optimization: Labor Mapping Rules
 in the Labor Optimization functional area.
You can use the
Create Labor Mapping Rules
 task to configure rules that predict labor demand for a Scheduling Organization (SO).
  1. Configure the
    Set Up: Labor Optimization: Labor Mapping Rules
     security domain.
  2. Access the
    Create Labor Mapping Rule
     task.
  3. Enter a date from which the rule takes effect using the
    Effective as of
    field.
    Specifying an effective date for a rule creates a snapshot for the new date.
  4. (Optional) To apply this rule to a smaller group of workers within a scheduling organization, select a
    Scheduling Subgroup Organization
    .
  5. Select the
    Schedule Tag Values
     that this rule will apply to.
    Example: You want to create a rule for Cashiers in the Stockton location, so you select
    Cashier
     in
    Schedule Tag 1
     and
    Stockton
     in
    Schedule Tag 2
    .
  6. (Optional) Create Volume-Based Labor Demand Rules.
    Also known as weighted metric rules, volume-based labor demand rules are used to predict labor demand based on specific metrics and their associated thresholds. When configuring a volume-based labor demand rule, you define a metric, weight, and tier rule. A tier rule determines whether Workday uses the Labor Demand Quantity when the metric reaches or exceeds the specified Minimum Value Threshold.
  7. As you complete the fields, consider:
    Option
    Description
    Weight
    Enter a percentage to assign to each metric, indicating its influence on the overall labor demand prediction.
    Note: The sum of all weights for metric-based rules in a single labor mapping rule must equal 100%.
    Metric
    Select the measure (such as sales volume or customer count) that drives labor demand from the metrics you’ve configured in Workday. Each metric can only be used once per rule.
    Minimum Value Threshold
    The values you enter in the Minimum Value Threshold and Labor Demand Quantity fields work together to create a tier rule.
    The
    Minimum Value Threshold Value
    acts as a trigger or condition. When you specify a value in this field (Example: 100 sales), and the actual metric (such as your sales) reaches or is greater than this value, the tier rule is triggered and Workday uses the associated
    Labor Demand Quantity
     value.
    Labor Demand Quantity
    Specify the amount of labor demand that Workday must generate when the associated metric meets or exceeds the
    Minimum Value Threshold Value
    . This is the output value that Workday uses to predict labor demand when the metric's value satisfies required conditions.
  8. (Optional) Create Fixed-Activity Labor Demand Rules to account for labor demand generated by specific, predefined activities that aren’t directly associated with a fluctuating metric.
    As you complete the fields, consider:
    Option
    Description
    Fixed Labor Activity
    Add existing fixed labor activities. Each activity can only be used once per rule. See: Create Fixed Labor Activity
    Labor Demand Quantity
    Assign a labor demand quantity for the selected fixed labor activity. When
    Allow Zero Duration Fixed Task Standards
     is enabled, a value of zero is allowed in this field. This means that no labor demand is created for this specific activity.
  9. (Optional) Create Task-Based Labor Demand Rules to specify the amount of time it typically takes to complete various metric-based or fixed duration tasks and activities.
    As you complete the fields, consider:
    Option
    Description
    Task Type
    Select
    Metric Based Task
     when you want to determine how much time is needed per unit of the metric.
    Select
    Fixed Duration Task
     to specify a total duration (hours, minutes, seconds) for the task.
    Task Interval
    Specify the forecasting interval for the task and its available values depend on the Task Type.
    For a fixed duration task, the allowed values are Daily and Weekly.
    For metric-based tasks, the allowed values are:
    • Daily
    • Weekly
    • 15 Minutes
    • 30 Minutes
    • 60 Minutes
    Metric
    For a metric-based task, you can select a specific metric (such as sales or customer count) that drives the labor demand for this task.
    Rate
    For a metric-based task, enter the amount of time required (in hours) to complete the task per unit of the selected metric.
    To enter less than an hour, you can use a decimal value. Example: 0.5 for 30 minutes.
    Offset
    For a metric-based task, you can use this field to adjust the timing of the labor demand relative to the metric. If enabled, you can specify:
    • Direction: Whether the offset is forward or backward.
    • Interval Offset: The number of intervals by which the demand is shifted.
    Advanced Conditions
    For a metric-based task, typically when you select
    Demand Period Length
     as the
    Task Interval
    , you can configure a condition based on the metric value.
    It includes:
    • Operator: Such as less than or greater than.
    • Metric Value: The value against which the metric is compared.
    Total Duration
    For a fixed-duration task, specify the total time needed to complete the task in hours, minutes, and seconds.
    Distribution Hours
    For a fixed-duration task, you can use this section to determine how the total duration of the task is distributed.
    • Static Times
      : Requires a specific
      Start Time
       and
      End Time
       for the task.
    • Operating Hours-Based Times
      : Requires
      Start Hours
      ,
      Start Minutes
      ,
      End Hours
      ,
      End Minutes
      , and
      When
       values (Example: At Open, Before Close) to align the task with the organization's operating hours.
    Day(s) of the Week
    For a fixed-duration task with a
    Task Interval
     set to
    Weekly
    , you can use this field to select specific days of the week for the task.
    Distribution Type
    For both fixed-duration and metric-based tasks, you can choose how labor demand is distributed across the day or week:
    • Evenly Distributed Across Intervals
      : Evenly distributes labor demand across a time interval and doesn’t account for metric forecasts.
    • By Metric Forecast
      : Distributes labor demand across a day or week according to a specific metric forecast for that day or week. Example: You distribute labor demand across a day for a restaurant according to the forecasted number of tables that will need service each hour, ensuring that there is more labor demand during the busier lunch hours and less during the late afternoon.
  10. (Optional) Create a flexible task to augment the functionality of fixed-duration tasks.
    A flexible task is a task which can be completed at any time in a day, rather than during a particular interval of time. Flexible task rules are a more efficient way of distributing labor that leverages labor demand which otherwise would have been subject to rounding or minimums.
  11. As you complete the fields, consider:
    Option
    Description
    Task Interval
    Specify the forecasting interval for the task. Common values are Daily and Weekly.
    Total Duration
    Specify the total time needed to complete the task, typically in hours, minutes, and seconds.
    Flexible Distribution
    Specify how Workday distributes any excess or remaining labor.
    Common options are:
    • From the Start: Distributes labor from the beginning of the period.
    • From the End: Distributes labor towards the end of the period.
  12. (Optional) Select a
    Labor Demand Rounding Rule
     to establish how Workday handles fractional (decimal) numbers when calculating the final labor demand.
    Option
    Description
    Round to nearest 1
    By default, Workday rounds to the nearest whole number. Example: When the calculated labor demand is, 3.4, Workday rounds down to 3. When it's 3.6, Workday rounds up to 4.
    Round up to nearest 1
    Example: When the demand is 3.1 or 3.9, Workday rounds up to 4 in both scenarios. This is useful when you want to ensure you always have enough staff.
    Round down to nearest 1
    Example: When the demand is 3.1 or 3.9, Workday rounds down to 3 in both scenarios.
  13. Click
    OK
    .